MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 47 



Some of the latter lost their lands (not fairly I 

 think) in a way they could not help ; many of the 

 former, by their misdirected pride and folly, were 

 driven into towns, to slide away into nothingness, 

 and to sink into oblivion, while their "ha' houses" 

 (halls), that ought to have remained in their 

 families from generation to generation, have 

 mouldered away. I have always felt extremely 

 grieved to see the ancient mansions of many of 

 the country gentlemen, from somewhat similar 

 causes, meet with a similar fate. The gentry 

 should, in an especial manner, prove by their 

 conduct that they are guarded against showing 

 any symptom of foolish pride, at the same time 

 that they soar above every meanness, and that 

 their conduct is guided by truth, integrity, and 

 patriotism. If they wish the people to partake 

 with them in these good qualities, they must set 

 them the example, without which no real respect 

 can ever be paid to them. Gentlemen ought 

 never to forget the respectable station they hold 

 in society, and that they are the natural guardians 

 of public morals, and may with propriety be 

 considered as the head and the heart of the 

 country, while "a bold peasantry" are, in truth, 

 the arms, the sinews, and the strength of the 

 same; but when these last are degraded, they 

 soon become dispirited and mean, and often 

 dishonest and useless. 



I think the late Duke of Northumberland must 

 have had an eye to raising the character of the 

 peasantry when he granted them small portions 

 of land at a reasonable rate. If so, in my way of 

 judging, he was an honour to the peerage, and 

 set an example worthy of himself and worthy of 



